Combination steering and driving axle for motor-vehicles.



v -z/uwamr No. 885,585. PATENTE'DWAPR 21, 1908.

J. P. CARPENTER. COMBINATION STEERING AND DRIVING AXLE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED 00114, 1807.

" 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Skin-$118150 NO. 885,585. PATENTED APR. 21, 1908.

J. P. CARPENTER. COMBINATION STEERING AND DRIVING AXLE-FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED OOT.14, 1907.

2 SHEETSSHEBT 2.

MM-M.

7 To all whom it may concern:

f useful Improvements in mg and Drlvm g Axles for M otor-Velncles and JAMES P. CARPENTER, OF ITHAiA, MICHIGAN.

oonnmx'rron s'rnnanvo AND DRIVING AXLE FOB Specification of Letters Patent.

MOTOR-VEHICLES.

Patented April 21,1908.

Application filed October 14, 190 7. Serial No. 397,426.

Be it known that I, Janus a citizen of the United States, residing at Ithaca, 1n the county of Gratiot and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and Combination Steer- 1 do declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the 1 same.

This invention relates to improvements in combined steering and driving axles for motor vehicles.

'1. he ob'ect of the invention is to provide an improved universal joint connection between the ends of the front axle and the front wheel s indles, whereby said wheels may be both riven and steered.

A further object of the invention is to provide a joint of this character which wi be simple, strong and durable in construction,

reliable and efiicient in o eration and well adapted to the purpose or which itis designed.

With, these objects in view, theinvention consists of certain novel features of con-.

struction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective yiew of one end of the axle andv a portior- ,0 one wheel of a motor the application of the invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the ball and socket joint of the axle; Fig. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view'of the same; and Fig. 4 is an inner side yiw of the guard ring forming part of the ,fsocket.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes the front or steering axle of the vehicle, on the outer end of which is rigidly mounted the socket member, 2, of a universal joint connection, the ball member,

of whichis fixedly mounted the front suporting wheels, 5, of the vehicle.

The ball member, 3, of the joint col i1- prises a solid spherical central portion 6, around which is formed a series of longitudinally disposed radially projecting ribs,

7, the ends of'which connect with annular P. CARPENTER,

supporting yoke,

of which is rigidly mounted on the innerend of the wheel spindle, 4, on the outer end bosses, 8, formed on the opposite sides Ol ends of the'balh, The socket, 2, comprises airinnor bend-spherical portion, 9, having on its. outer edge a radially projecting flange, 10,

to which is bolted or otherwise connected, a

12, by means oliwvhiclr the ball 'guard ring,

are hold in operative engageand socket nent.

The ad acent mn'cr corners of the outer edge of the socket section 0 and the guard ring Hare cut away to form an annular ball race, 13, in which is disposed a series of antifriciiion bearing balls, 14, adapted to engage or rolljon the outer surface of the spherical body portion, (3, of the ball between the ribs, 7, formed thereon, two of said balls being refcrably disposed between each pair oi ribs, hnd in the ball race, 13, between each of tli'e t '0 balls arranged between the pairs of ribs, s formed a stop block, 15, said blocks, in conjunction with the ribs 7, forming steps which n'evcnt the socket from turning on theJball and cause the latter to be rotated by or ith said socket.

T i rotation of the ball 3 by the socket being i ham'rted to the forward wheels 5 through the spindles l, which are fixedly connected to the balls and wheels, thus roviding for the driving of the forward wheels irrespective of the angle to which the same are turned.

In connection with the joint I provide a 16, which consists of an in ner axle-engaging section 17 and an outer spindle-engagingsection, 18, said sections being lIl substantially semi-circular form and are pivotally connected together at their inner ends by means of pivot bolts, 19, whereby thcy are adapted to swing freely on each other. The sections 17 and'18 of the yoke are provided with centrally disposed bearing balls, 21,- through which the axle and s )indles ass, thereby providing an anti-irictiona bearing between said sections of the yoke and the axle and spindles.

On one side of the spindle section 18 of the yoke is pivotally connected the outer end of a steering rod,-22, by means of which the spindles and the parts connected thercto are turned, thus guiding the vehicle in the desired direction.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by bers, of wheel s indles having on their inner ends ball mem ers adapted to engage said sockets on the ends of the axle, anti-frictional bearing balls arranged between said ball and socket, means to lock said socket against revolution on said ball, whereby the latter and the spindle connected tliereto are driven by said axle irrespective of the angle at which said spindles are-turned, and a supporting yoke connected to said axle and spindle, substantially as described.

2'. In a device of the character described,

the combination with a driving axle, of

wheel spindles arranged at each end thereof,

- a ball and socket connection between the outer ends of the axle and the inner ends of .ner ends of said sections, su stantially as desaid spindles, means to lock the socket against revolution on the ball member of said connection, whereby the s indies are driven by the axle at various ang es, a supporting yoke comprising an axle section and a spindle section, and means to pivotall connect the inscribedl' I i 31- In a deviceof the character described, the combination with the driving axle, with spindles arranged at the opposite ends of -said axle, a ball and socket joint connection arranged between the ends of'the axle and the spindle, said connection comprising a socket member fixedly mounted on the end of the axle, a ball member fixedly mounted on the inner end of the spindle andadapted to engage said socket member, a guard ring tohold said ball in operative connection with the socket, an annular ball race formed in the ifiner'side of said socket, anti-frictional bearing balls arranged in said race and adapted to engage said ball member, and'means arranged insaid ball race and on said ball to form stops to revent the turning of the socket on the ball, W ereby the latter and said wheel Y spindles are driven by the axle through said socket, substantiall as described.

4. In a device 0 the characterdescribed, the combination with a driving axle, of

wheel spindles arranged at the opposite ends of said axle, a universal joint connection between said spindles and the axle, said con-.

nection comprising a socket member fixedly mounted on the end of the axle, a guard ring forming part "of saidsocket and detachably connected thereto, a ball member adapted to be operatively engaged with said socket, said? ball member comprising an inner spherical; portion, a/series' of radially projectlng ribs formed on said spherical portion, an annular ball race formed on the inner side of said socket, a series of anti-frictional bearing balls driving or turning of t e latter, and the spindles mounted thereon, substantially as;

described;

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Wit- HBSSGS.

JAMES, P. CARPENTER; Witnesses R. A. BARBER, J. Lu PATTS, 

